British Mandate: A Survey of Palestine: Volume I - Page 80. Historical Summary: Period IX: June to August, 1945. The agitation for a Jewish State and unrestricted immigration

CHAPTER II.

June, 1945.

The failure of the Jewish Agency to obtain official Jewish representation at the San Fransisco Conference while the Arab States were able to send official delegations caused expressions of resentment on the part of the Jewish community.

The announcement of the Government's decision to reduce tho Jewish supernumerary police from their war establishment to a peace-time basis was criticised as a blow to the Jewish security organization and prompted demands for the demobilization of Jewish soldiers and for the transfer of the Jewish Brigade Group to Palestine.

August, 1945.

At the Zionist Conference at London, attended by most of the prominent figures of the Jewish Agency and Zionist Organization, the maximalist demands of Jews were officially reaffirmed.

31st August, 1945.

President Truman wrote to Mr. Attlee bringing to his attention the suggestion made in a report by Mr. Earl G. Harrison that the granting of an additional 100,000 certificates for the immigration of Jews into Palestine would alleviate the situation. The existence of this letter was made public by ex-Senator Gillette on 13th September. President Truman authorised the release to the press on the 29th September of Mr. Harrison's report and of a letter which be had written to General Eisenhower on 31st August urging him to take steps to improve the condition of displaced persons in Germany and concluding with the information that the President was "communicating directly with the British Government in an effort to have the doors of Palestine opened to such of these displaced persons as wished to go there".

During August and September there was a revival of Arab society and club activity such as that which had played a prominent part in 1936-1938 in furtherance of the Arab rebellion; this was accompanied by the reorganization of Arab scout formations and their training under Arab instructors demobilised from the British Army. This activity, together with The increasing coherence of policy and action on the part of the Arab political parties, was significant of the awakening of Arab awareness of the urgency of the political problems and of a desire to prepare for a trial of strength.

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